Historic Newspapers: Coffee House (UK)

What we now refer to as "coffee-house newspapers" were originally distributed within 17th and 18th century English coffeehouses. For the price of a penny, customers purchased a cup of coffee and admission, which typically included a newspaper - often printed specifically for their patrons. Socially similar to English alehouses, the absence of alcohol created an atmosphere in which one could engage in more serious conversation as they perused their newspaper (source: adapted from Wikipedia).  Many of these original coffeehouse newspapers are available for sale and are shown below. Please enjoy.
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  • From the 1600's by a woman publisher, Joanna Brome...
    Item #716156
    THE OBSERVATOR, London, England, Dec. 10, 1681  A dialogue newspaper founded by Sir Roger L'Estrange, a Tory pamphleteer, as a vehicle for attacking dissenters and Whigs. This newspaper has the old style type making it great for framing, particularly with the over 340 year-old date clearly visible in the dateline.
    The most... Read full description  

    Item from our most recent catalog - #365 - released for April, 2026

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    $75.00
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  • Interesting publication from the 17th century...
    Item #721949
    THE WEEKLY PACQUET OF ADVICE FROM ROME: OR, THE HISTORY OF POPERY, London, Jan. 28, 1680/1 (1681 by today's calendar).  

    * From the 17th century
    * Rare variant publication


    This was a fiercely anti-Catholic newspaper, created during the height of the "Popish Plot" hysteria (1678-1681), a fabricated conspiracy... Read full description  
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    $55.00
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  • Interesting publication from the 17th century...
    Item #723098
    THE WEEKLY PACQUET OF ADVICE FROM ROME: OR, THE HISTORY OF POPERY, London, June 17, 1681  

    * From the 17th century
    * Rare variant publication


    This was a fiercely anti-Catholic newspaper, created during the height of the "Popish Plot" hysteria (1678-1681), a fabricated conspiracy theory widely believed at the time,... Read full description  
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    $52.00
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  • From the 1600's by a woman publisher... Joanna Brome...
    Item #600518
    THE OBSERVATOR, London, England, 1682  A dialogue newspaper founded by Sir Roger L'Estrange, a Tory pamphleteer, as a vehicle for attacking dissenters and Whigs. This early singlesheet newspaper has the old style type making it great for framing (see photo) particularly with the over 300+ year old date clearly visible in... Read full description  
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    $75.00
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  • 17th century woman publisher...
    Item #707101
    THE OBSERVATOR, London, March 19, 1683  

    * Rare publication w/ Woman publisher
    * Hold something from the 17th century in your hands


    This is a handsome dialogue newspaper founded by Sir Roger L'Estrange, a Tory pamphleteer, as a vehicle for attacking dissenters and Whigs. Done in a dialogue format, between Whig & Tory. This early single... Read full description  
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    $42.00
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  • Handsome, 340 year old newspaper... published by Charles Brome...
    Item #707281
    THE OBSERVATOR, London, England, Oct. 9, 1684  A dialogue newspaper founded by Sir Roger L'Estrange, a Tory pamphleteer, as a vehicle for attacking dissenters and Whigs. This early singlesheet newspaper has the old style type making it great for framing, particularly with the over 340 year old date clearly visible... Read full description  

    Item from our most recent catalog - #365 - released for April, 2026

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    $48.00
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  • Handsome, 300+ year old newspaper... published by Charles Brome...
    Item #601055
    THE OBSERVATOR, London, England, 1684-1686  A dialogue newspaper founded by Sir Roger L'Estrange, a Tory pamphleteer, as a vehicle for attacking dissenters and Whigs. This early singlesheet newspaper has the old style type making it great for framing (see photo) particularly with the over 300+ year old date clearly... Read full description  
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    $48.00
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  • Over 330  years old...
    Item #649262
    THE ATHENIAN MERCURY by John Dunton, London, England, 1692-1694. This was a fine gentleman's newspaper which was very popular in the coffeehouses of early England. Interesting reading on a wide range of topics & one of the earliest periodicals in English. Partially in question/answer format. This newspaper was published before any American newspapers even... Read full description  
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    $45.00
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  • Over 325 years old...
    Item #120350
    THE ATHENIAN MERCURY by John Dunton, London, England, 1692-1694. This was a fine gentleman's newspaper which was very popular in the coffeehouses of early England. Interesting reading on a wide range of topics & one of the earliest periodicals in English. Partially in question/answer format. This newspaper was published before any American newspapers even... Read full description  
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    $45.00
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  • Very first of the advice column newspapers...
    Item #716157
    THE ATHENIAN MERCURY, London, March 19, 1692  This was the very first of the "agony aunt" newspapers, a newspaper providing personal advice to its readers.
    In creating this format of responding to questions from readers, the publisher, John Dunton, did so as a result of feeling guilty for cheating on his wife. He thought that people... Read full description  

    Item from our most recent catalog - #365 - released for April, 2026

    Available Now

    $75.00
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  • John Marshall, a pioneer in the world of spectacles & optics...
    Item #698987
    THE ATHENIAN MERCURY, London, Nov. 19, 1692  

    * Rare 17th century publication
    * Early optician, John Marshall ad


    One of just four advertisements on the back page is a quite lengthy & descriptive ad beginning: "At the sign of the Archimedes and Spectacles in Ludgate street, the West End of St. Paul's... Read full description  
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    $220.00
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  • A variant and short-lived title...
    Item #699430
    THE REHEARSAL OF OBSERVATOR, London, England  Nov. 11, 1704  A variant title --& earlier date--of the newspaper titled "The Rehearsal" and much less common. This is issue #15. In the masthead is the topic of the day: "The Method of the Dissenters Towards Peace & Union".
    A single sheet newspaper printed on both... Read full description  

    Item from last month's catalog - #364 - released for March, 2026.

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    $40.00
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  • A variant and short-lived title...
    Item #120190
    THE REHEARSAL OF OBSERVATOR, London, England  1704-1706  A variant title --& earlier date--of the newspaper titled "The Rehearsal", and much less common. A single sheet newspaper printed on both sides measuring about 8 by 13 inches. The image shown is only an example of the layout and condition of what you will receive. Actual... Read full description  
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    $36.00
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  • A variant and short-lived title...
    Item #649223
    THE REHEARSAL OF OBSERVATOR, London, England  1704-1705  A variant title --& earlier date--of the newspaper titled "The Rehearsal", and much less common. A single sheet newspaper printed on both sides measuring 8 by 13 inches. The image shown is only an example of the layout and condition of what you will receive. Actual... Read full description  
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    $36.00
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  • A variant and short-lived title...
    Item #699463
    THE REHEARSAL OF OBSERVATOR, London, England  Oct. 28, 1704  

    * Volume 1 - Number 13 issue
    * Rare 18th century publication


    A variant title --& earlier date--of the newspaper titled "The Rehearsal" and much less common. This is issue #13. In the masthead is the topic of the day: "The Observatory's Preparation... Read full description  
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    $38.00
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  • Short-lived newspaper with an interesting title from 1708...
    Item #120202
    THE BRITISH APOLLO, OR CURIOUS AMUSEMENTS FOR THE INGENIOUS and subtitled: "To Which are Added the Most Material Occurrences Foreign and Domestick". Published in London, and "Perform'd by a Society of Gentlemen" as noted in the masthead, the date is 1708. The British Apollo appeared twice a week until... Read full description  
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    $28.00
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  • Rare Daniel DeFoe periodical...  Only a few remain within our inventory...
    Item #207535
    A REVIEW OF THE STATE OF THE BRITISH NATION, London, 1708 From research done by the prestigious London rare book firm of Pickering & Chatto, this is one of Daniel Defoe's greatest, but least known works. The Review covered his many interests, both literary and historical and was published twice and later... Read full description  
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    $95.00
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  • One of the less common, early titles...
    Item #597046
    THE REHEARSAL, London, May 15, 1708 

    * Rare 18th century title

    A fine single sheet newspaper which lasted only 6 years. By Charles Leslie, considered a violent controversialist who was virtually inextinguishable. Content is discussion of various topics. Unusual & seldom found. 12 3/4 by 7 1/4 inches. Minor archival mend on the... Read full description  
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    $38.00
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  • One of the less common, early titles...
    Item #597162
    THE REHEARSAL, London, May 19, 1708

    * Rare 18th century title

    A fine single sheet newspaper which lasted only 6 years. By Charles Leslie, considered a violent controversialist who was virtually inextinguishable. Content is discussion of various topics as listed just above the dateline. Unusual & seldom found. 12 3/4 by 7 1/4 inches. Minor... Read full description  
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    $38.00
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  • One of the less common, early titles...
    Item #699469
    THE REHEARSAL, London, Oct. 13, 1708  

    * Rare 18th century publication

    A fine single sheet newspaper which lasted only 6 years. It was published by Charles Leslie, considered a violent controversialist who was virtually inextinguishable. Another source notes: "...in August 1704, he had started, in opposition to the... Read full description  
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    $44.00
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  • Early and notable 18th century title...     Addison & Steele...
    Item #649221
    THE SPECTATOR, London, England, 1711-12  One of the more famous of the early newspapers - founded by the famed Addison & Steele. Nice condition, trimmed, some light browning. A single sheet issue measuring approximately 8 by 11 1/2 inches. 
    Available Now

    $48.00
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  • Early and notable 18th century title...  Addison & Steele...
    Item #120488
    THE SPECTATOR, London, England, 1711-12  One of the more famous of the early newspapers - founded by the famed Addison & Steele. Nice condition, trimmed, some light browning. A single sheet issue measuring approximately 8 by 11 1/2 inches. 
    Available Now

    $48.00
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  • A Free Thinker's Religion... On Conjugal Love...
    Item #647194
    THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, January, 1732  The issue begins with 26 pages of "A View of the Weekly Disputes & Essays in this Month". This section has various reports from the many newspapers in England including the London Journal, The Craftsman, Applebee's Journal, Universal Spectator, Fog's Journal,... Read full description  
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    $30.00
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  • Settling Georgia...
    Item #616459
    THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, March, 1735  Near the back is a section headed: "Monthly Intelligencer" with news reports from various parts of England & Europe with one report under the heading: "Plantation Affairs" including: "From Georgia, that the 27th of December last the Indian Princes...arriv'd there in good... Read full description  
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    $48.00
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  • If you are searching for a newspaper from a specific date, please note that we have a vast selection available for purchase by using the date picker on our gifts and birthday newspapers page.